Plastic component

ABSTRACT

A plastic component with at least one first wall in which a pocket or a plurality of pockets is provided. A pocket can constitute a bulge that protrudes out from the plane of the wall. The pocket has at least one second wall and one third wall. The second wall is oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall and the angle is greater than 45° and the third wall is oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall that is less than 45°.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2014 209 323.6, which was filed in Germany on May 16, 2014, and which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plastic component, in particular a plastic component of a heat exchanger or an air conditioning system, in particular of a motor vehicle.

2. Description of the Background Art

Plastic components, particularly for heat exchangers or air conditioning systems, have at least one wall that is generally embodied as relatively thin and for reinforcing purposes, is provided with reinforcing ribs on the outside or inside. There are thus known collector boxes of heat exchangers with reinforcing ribs that are usually mounted on the outside. There are also known air conditioning system housings that have reinforcing ribs on the outside in order to improve the rigidity of elements that are rather large in area.

As compared to the embodiment of the wall of the component, the embodiment of reinforcing ribs requires additional material that must be used in order to increase the rigidity, but this increases costs.

DE 10 2008 002 408 A1 discloses that the housing of an air conditioning system can be constructed of different materials. Load-bearing regions are composed of a more rigid material and non-load-bearing regions are composed of a material that is less sophisticated than the former.

DE 103 35 434 A1 discloses a ventilation duct for interior ventilation in which the wall is composed of triangular elements in a hexagonal grid; these triangles are tilted slightly relative to one another, producing raised areas and adjacent recessed areas. Such components with correspondingly embodied surfaces, however, do not exhibit the required rigidity particularly relative to a maximum internal pressure that occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a plastic component that is simply designed, inexpensive to produce, and has the required rigidity.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a plastic component with at least one first wall in which a pocket or a plurality of pockets is provided. A pocket can be a bulge that protrudes out from the plane of the wall. The pocket can have at least one second wall and one third wall. The second wall can be oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall and the angle is greater than 45°. The third wall can be oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall that is less than 45°. This produces pockets that protrude from the first wall and thus form reinforcing elements in order to increase the rigidity of the first wall.

The third wall can be oriented parallel to the plane of the first wall. As a result, between the first wall and the third wall, there is a second wall that protrudes from the plane of the first wall and from the plane of the third wall, thus producing the reinforcing effect.

The third wall can be oriented at an acute angle of less than 30° relative to the plane of the first wall. Then it is possible for the second wall to extend around only part of the circumference, thus increasing the rigidity.

In another exemplary embodiment, the second wall can be oriented essentially at a right angle to the plane of the first wall. This produces a high rigidity.

The third wall can be oriented at an acute angle of less than 30° relative to the plane of the first wall. Then it is possible to produce an indentation that adjoins the first wall in a relatively flat fashion.

The second wall can be embodied so that it extends around an opening or edge of the first wall and the third wall adjoins the surrounding second wall.

The second wall can be embodied so that it adjoins an opening of the first wall on three sides and the third wall adjoins the second wall on three sides and adjoins the first wall on one side.

The pocket can be triangular in cross-section. This means that the depth of the pocket changes over the course of the pocket. It is thus possible to influence a flow along the wall only slightly.

In the event that the first wall is not embodied as planar, but is instead arched or bent, it is also advantageous if the pocket follows its arched or bent contour. The pocket therefore essentially follows the first wall in the shape that the latter would assume if the pocket were not there. This imaginary course can then be laterally extrapolated by the course of the pocket.

A plurality of pockets can be provided, which are distributed around the component. This increases the rigidity of the plastic component across its entire surface.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the pockets are distributed along at least one line. It is thus possible to increase the rigidity of the component and of the first wall particularly in the longitudinal direction of the line.

The pockets can be arranged adjacent to at least one edge of the component. It is thus possible to increase the rigidity along the edge.

The pocket can have a depth that decreases along at least one direction. This can have an advantageous effect on a flow along the first wall and past the pocket.

The plastic component can have a flow conduit through which a fluid can flow in a flow direction and the depth of the pocket decreases in the flow direction.

The wall thickness of the component can be substantially constant. It is thus possible to optimize the costs of the component in such a way as to satisfactorily fulfill the primary purposes of the component.

Reinforcing ribs an be provided in regions without pockets and/or between pockets. This is particularly advantageous if the ribs are provided in regions in which it is not possible to provide pockets.

In an embodiment, pockets can protrude from the plane of the first wall in one direction and/or in two directions. It is thus possible for individual pockets to protrude in one direction and/or for other pockets to protrude in the other direction.

Adjacent pockets can protrude from the plane of the first wall in opposite directions.

In another exemplary embodiment, two adjacent pockets can transition into each other and individual regions of each pocket can protrude from the plane of the first wall in opposite directions. As a result, two adjacent pockets form a single pocket.

The component can be a collector box of a heat exchanger, a housing of the heat exchanger, or a connecting fitting of a heat exchanger.

The component can be a housing or housing part of an air conditioning system.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a first plastic component according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plastic component according to the invention from a first side,

FIG. 3 shows the plastic component in FIG. 2 from another side,

FIG. 4 shows another plastic component according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pocket,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a pocket, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a plastic component 1, which is embodied in the form of an evaporator housing and constitutes an air duct.

The plastic component 1 has two first walls 2 that are embodied as planar in this exemplary embodiment. The two first walls are oriented at an angle of approximately 90° to each other and are connected to each other. Each first wall 2 is provided with a plurality of pockets 3. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide only one pocket 3.

The pocket 3 is depicted in greater detail in the schematic cross-sectional view A.

In this case, the pocket 3 is composed of a bulge that protrudes out from the plane 4 of the wall 2. The pocket 3 here has at least one second wall 5 and one third wall 6. The second wall 5 is oriented at an angle α relative to the plane 4 of the first wall 2. The angle α here is preferably greater than 45°, in particular greater than 90°. The third wall 6 is oriented at angle β relative to the plane 4 of the first wall 2. The angle β is preferably greater than 45°.

This produces a pocket that protrudes or projects out from the plane of the first wall. The second wall, in combination with the third wall, achieves an increased rigidity.

The detail A shows that the second wall 5 is only situated on one side, viewed cross-sectionally, while the third wall 6 extends at an acute angle from the second wall 5 to the first wall 2. In the course of this, the depth T of the pocket 3 decreases in the flow direction 7 of a fluid in the component.

Alternatively, the third wall 6 can also be oriented parallel to the first wall 2 or to the plane of the first wall 2. If the first wall is not embodied as planar, but instead follows a curvature, an angle, etc., then the third wall 6 can follow this curvature or angle.

FIG. 1 shows that three pockets 3 are situated adjacent to one another.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a part of an air intake housing 10 with two intakes 11, 12. These intakes are embodied in the form of a fresh air intake 11 and a recirculation air intake. The housing part 10 here is connected to other housing parts of an air conditioning system.

The housing part 10 has surfaces 13 in which pockets 14 are provided. The pockets 14 here are embodied in the form of approximately rectangular pockets with a constant depth that are arranged in linear fashion relative to one another. The pockets 14 here are arranged spaced apart from one another. It is also apparent that the pockets 14 protrude from the respective plane of the first wall in one direction.

FIG. 4 shows a filter cover 20. The filter cover 20 here is essentially rectangular and embodied in the form of a flat plane; pockets 22 are provided in the first wall 21. The pockets 22 here are distributed around the perimeter. Relatively short pockets 23 are shown along the longitudinal sides and U-shaped pockets 24 that enclose the narrow ends are shown at these narrow ends. Between the peripherally arranged pockets 23, 24, a central pocket 25 is provided, which extends approximately over the entire length of the filter cover 20.

In this case, a pocket 3 constitutes a bulge that protrudes out from the plane 4 of the wall 2. The pocket 3 here has at least one second wall 5 and one third wall 6. The second wall 5 is oriented at an angle α relative to the plane 4 of the first wall 2. The angle α here is preferably greater than 45°, in particular greater than 90°. The third wall 6 is oriented at angle β relative to the plane 4 of the first wall 2. The angle β is preferably greater than 45°.

This produces a pocket that protrudes or projects out from the plane of the first wall. The second wall, in combination with the third wall, produces an increased rigidity.

FIGS. 5 and 7 show other exemplary embodiments of pockets according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the pocket 30 is embodied so that viewed in cross-section, it has two walls 32 that protrude from the plane 31 and are connected by another wall 33. The other wall 33 in this case is embodied as angled in such a way that two wall sections 34, 35 extend at an obtuse angle relative to each other. In this case, the angle points toward the plane 31.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pocket 40 in which the pocket 40 is embodied so that viewed in cross-section, it has two walls 42 that protrude from the plane 41 and are connected by another wall 43. The other wall 43 in this case is embodied as angled in such a way that two wall sections 44, 45 extend at an obtuse angle relative to each other. In this case, the angle points away from the plane 41.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pocket 50 in which the pocket 50 is embodied so that viewed in cross-section, it has two walls 52 that protrude from the plane 51 and are connected by another wall 53. The other wall 53 in this case is oriented at an acute angle relative to the plane 51.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic component comprising at least one first wall in which a pocket or a plurality of pockets is provided, a pocket being a bulge that protrudes out from a plane of the first wall, the pocket having at least one second wall and one third wall, wherein the second wall is oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall, the angle being greater than 45°, and wherein the third wall is oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the first wall that is less than 45°.
 2. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the third wall is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the first wall.
 3. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the third wall is oriented at an acute angle of less than 30° relative to the plane of the first wall.
 4. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the second wall is oriented substantially at a right angle to the plane of the first wall.
 5. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the third wall is oriented at an acute angle of less than 30° relative to the plane of the first wall.
 6. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the second wall extends around an opening of the first wall and wherein the third wall adjoins the surrounding second wall.
 7. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the second wall adjoins an opening of the first wall on three sides and wherein the third wall adjoins the second wall on three sides and adjoins the first wall on one side.
 8. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is triangular in cross-section.
 9. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein in the event that the first wall is not embodied as planar, but is instead arched or bent, then the pocket follows its arched or bent contour.
 10. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets are distributed around the component.
 11. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein pockets are distributed along at least one line.
 12. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein pockets are situated adjacent to at least one edge of the component.
 13. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the pocket has a depth that decreases along at least one direction.
 14. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the plastic component has a flow conduit through which a fluid is adapted to flow in a flow direction and a depth of the pocket decreases in the flow direction.
 15. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the component is substantially constant.
 16. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein reinforcing ribs are provided in regions without pockets and/or between pockets.
 17. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein pockets protrude from the plane of the first wall in one direction and/or in two directions.
 18. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein adjacent pockets protrude from the plane of the first wall in opposite directions.
 19. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein two adjacent pockets transition into each other and individual regions of each pocket protrude from the plane of the first wall in opposite directions.
 20. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the component is a collector box of a heat exchanger, a housing of the heat exchanger, or a connecting fitting of the heat exchanger.
 21. The plastic component according to claim 1, wherein the component is a housing or housing part of an air conditioning system. 